Uncle of ambassador killed in Libya says attack "devastating"

An Arabic speaker who loved Libya and understood it deeply, Stevens died along with three other Americans when an angry mob stormed the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi. He was the first U.S. ambassador to be killed in the line of duty since Adolph Dubs in Kabul, Afghanistan in 1979.

Stevens' uncle, Don Slicer, lives in Shawano County. He said he knew it couldn't be good when his phone at home rang at 4:30 in the morning.

"I was shocked that it was Chris, but I wasn't shocked that it could happen," Slicer said.

Slicer's sister married ambassador Chris Stevens' father five years ago.

"Chris was in Libya all the time, so he didn't attend the regular kind of family reunions or come together and see each other every few months," Slicer said.

Slicer says his sister and brother-in-law e-mailed him from London. He says they are waiting for directions from the State Department. The couple told Slicer they are devastated.

"Devastating is a good word. I've lost a son. I know what it's like and I know what they are going through right now," Slicer said.

Stevens is originally from California. Slicer says he plans to head there for his nephew's funeral.

"I never thought even in Libya after Gaddafi was gone that that would be a huge problem, but I was always a little nervous because of the unstableness of the country," Slicer said.

Although tension and protests continue in Libya, Slicer says it is important to honor the memory of those who died, including Stevens.

"His family adored him. The people that worked with him were very impressed by him. He is a tremendous loss not just for our family, but for the entire nation," Slicer said.